As you will see, we haven’t been sleeping on the job. Our top freestyle kiteboards have been given a bold new look and a complete rebuild to include our revolutionary new FAT rail. At AXIS we believe that kiting is for everyone, so we introduce the Vanguard ‘Grom’for young kiters, new Traction Small footpads, and with Vanguard Tandem even non kiters can experience the stoke. The shapes of our popular wake range have also been given the FAT rail treatment and subtle tweaks. We present a completely new range of surfboards, both a high tech strapless board and extremely tough oak laminate strapped range accompany AXIS’s unique New Wave. And in our spare time, we designed our own foil, with a range of foil boards to match.
AXIS master shaper Adrian Roper hard at work, Leucate, France.
Innovation
We are constantly pushing the limits in the quest for a better board. This year we introduce the AXIS Kapua, a kite surfboard built using a new high performance polypropylene fibre called Innegra which has outstanding impact and compression strength properties. This results in a surfboard that is exceptionally strong for its weight, so light that we named it Kapua, a Maori word meaning ‘cloud’. Each board is hand laminated with pigmented epoxy resin, so no two boards will ever look exactly the same. The Kapua also features a carbon fibre patch to further reduce compression under your front foot. If strapless kite surfing is your thing, we designed the AXIS Kapua range to be the best thing you can put between your feet and the water.
James Carew puts an AXIS Kapua prototype to the test, Cloudbreak, Fiji.
Table of Contents
Olly Brunton
KITE
Patrick Blanc
LIMITED The Limited is top shelf. You know it is. Made like a sandwich of the most expensive stuff we could find in our pursuit of perfection. The 2016 Limited retains the outline, channels and rocker of the 2015 model, but we have radically redesigned the profile with our new FAT Rail. Thick and rounded in the centre and tapering to fine tips, the FAT Rail gives a more stable, settled and balanced ride, while dramatically increasing the strength of the board. Don’t be fooled by its milder manners on the water, this baby is ready to load and explode. Beneath the surface of the 100% biaxial carbon fibre top and bottom is a solid Paulownia wood core. A beefed up 12mm ABS wall makes for a stronger rail that tracks and releases beautifully, while carefully placed uni-directional carbon controls flex at the tips, becoming progressively stiffer towards the centre. The Limited is our highest performance kiteboard. It’s the AXIS of awesome. SIZES
INCLUDED
132 X 40 134 X 41 136 X 42 138 X 42.5 140 X 43
Traction PLUS 50mm Fins
VANGUARD The Vanguard is a freestyle machine. This board wants to be pushed to the absolute limits. With its explosive pop, incredible tracking and smooth landings the Vanguard will deliver the utmost performance in all conditions and excels as you do. The 2016 Vanguard retains the outline, channels and rocker of the 2015 model, but we have radically redesigned the profile with our new FAT Rail. Thick and rounded in the centre and tapering to fine tips, the FAT Rail gives a more stable, settled and balanced ride, while dramatically increasing the strength of the board.This board is fast, light, flexible, and is available in a vast array of dimensions so you can get the size that will feel as if it was custom made for you. Compatible with pads/straps or boots the Vanguard will meet your freestyle demands and then some.
SIZES
INCLUDED
133 x 41 135 x 41.5 137 x 42 139 x 43 141 x 44
Traction PLUS 50mm Fins
DIVISION The AXIS Division has a straighter outline in the middle and is more curved in the tips making it smooth and stable, instantly comfortable, and a blast to use. The bottom shape is less complicated than some of our more aggressive freestyle models, which reduces the drag of the board, makes it faster, provides more upwind ability, and makes for some smooth, predictable landings. The outline, flex, and bottom shape allow this board to butter through chop and still deliver when it is pushed to the next level. In smaller sizes the AXIS Division has been a favourite of younger riders and female riders because it is very light and has the correct amount of pop that lighter riders need to achieve their goals.
SIZES
INCLUDED
128 x 38 133 x 40 135 x 41 138 x 42
Traction 50mm Fins
LIBERTY The AXIS Liberty gives you the freedom to pursue your dreams, if your dream is to get up and ride! The Liberty is designed for beginners to intermediate riders. The Liberty’s soft, forgiving nature makes this the perfect board for entry-level kiters and people who require all-round performance. The construction is fiberglass and a Paulownia wood core, providing a great board at a competitive price. When we first rode the Liberty, it surprised us. It rode much better than anyone expected an entry level board to ride. We put this down to the Liberty’s thicker, tapered rail, which we’ve now developed into the AXIS FAT rail found on our top of the line freestyle boards for 2016. The Liberty’s flex allows you to cruise over chop and unforgiving water with ease. The flatter rocker line requires less power from the kite thus making it easier to get up and plane quickly. This advances the progression of new kiters and allows more advanced kiters to have speed on tap! Get on the Liberty and explore the freedom of kiteboarding!
SIZES
INCLUDED
134 x 41 137 x 41.5 140 x 42 145 x 43 150 x 44
Traction 50mm Fins
Division
VANGUARD ‘GROM’ 115 Our newest addition to the Vanguard family is this little ripper designed especially for your little rippers, the Vanguard ‘Grom’ 115cm. Developed with a crew of frothers as young as 7 over in Safety Bay, West Australia, this board is a high performance freestyle Vanguard, just in a smaller package. We gave the graphics an extra splash of colour but underneath the skin is the same proven construction as the rest of the Vanguards. It also features our new FAT rail for a more stable, settled and balanced ride. Combined with our new Traction Small pads it’s a complete package designed for all the groms out there. Why should the big kids have all the fun? Speaking of fun, when the wind picks up and the kid isn’t using it, this little thing is the perfect big air tool.
SIZES
INCLUDED
115 x 37
Traction PLUS Small 50mm Fins
VANGUARD TANDEM Now in it’s third season, the Tandem is a board we pioneered with our team rider Tamatoa Gillot to cater for his love of our sport and his desire to share it. Kiting is for everyone. The AXIS Tandem is a great introduction to kiteboarding, and a perfect induction to lessons. Ideal for kite schools, Tandem puts the student right there on the board with the instructor to get a grip of the basics before setting out on their own. The Tandem is a 148cm Vanguard, with inserts for two sets of pads and reinforcements in certain areas to address the additional weight and flex requirements of two riders. It also doubles as a great all round board for heavier kiters. Put a smile on you and your friend’s dials and share the stoke with the AXIS Tandem.
SIZES
INCLUDED
148 x 46
2 sets Traction PLUS 50mm Fins
Division
PATROL The 2016 AXIS Patrol has been given an eye popping splash of yellow, but retains the proven construction and design details of its predecessors. Light, strong, snappy and ready to pop in the lightest conditions. The Patrol is designed specifically for light wind conditions and comes in two sizes for riders of varying weight. The Patrol has a flatter shape and less complicated bottom concave creating a faster board with less drag. Don’t buy a bigger kite before you have tried this lightwind specific board. Incredibly maneuverable, the Patrol has an increased surface area giving the rider quicker planing, more power from the kite and makes freestyle riding possible even in light winds. These characteristics also make the board popular on the twin tip race circuit. Enjoy the flat, butter smooth uncrowded water all to yourself. Make the most of every day kiting with the 2016 AXIS Patrol.
SIZES
INCLUDED
144 X 45 148 x 47
Traction 50mm Fins
http://redbullkingoftheair.com/leaderboard/
ULTRA The 2016 AXIS ULTRA has the same shape as the 2016 Patrol but is lighter and more responsive thanks to biaxial carbon construction. We don’t use carbon to build the lightest or stiffest board on the market, we are trying to build the nicest board to ride. The layers of 45 degree biaxial carbon flex more naturally than typical 90 degree carbon cloth, allowing progressive flex and controlling torsion. The AXIS ULTRA is designed specifically for light wind conditions and comes in two sizes for riders of varying weight. The shallow rocker, square outline and simple concave bottom shape make for a very efficient board to get you out on the water while the others are wondering whether to bother. These characteristics also make the board popular on the twin tip race circuit. AXIS Ultra 2016, when you want the best to get out there before the rest.
SIZES
INCLUDED
144 x 45 148 x 47
Traction PLUS 40mm Fins
Josh Stevens
WAKE
TRANQ This board was designed by Alex Lewis-Hughes to do what he likes best, everything! The 2016 Tranq has undergone a complete rebuild, but should still be a familiar ride. We’ve kept it’s versatile outline and rocker, and tweaked the channel shapes and rail to give a smoother faster ride with quicker acceleration, less torsional flex and softer landings. The new thick PU rails transform the feel of the board, and come from the factory slightly rounded, you could tune the rails more yourself for an even softer ride. The thick rails allow the paulownia wood core to be thicker through the centre of the Tranq for a stiffer board with less torsional flex and a flatter deck to keep even the crappiest binding baseplates sitting flush. The rails taper towards the tips, allowing flex for those interested in getting bendy on rails. Heavy duty P-Tex top and bottom sheets have been screenprinted with the purest blackness for durability and extra badness.
“Three years of testing new ideas and riding prototypes has culminated in the production of the 2016 Tranq, and to celebrate we’ve given it back in black.” - Alex Lewis-Hughes
SIZES
INCLUDED
141 x 43
18mm fins
“It’s super strong, I’m still riding the same board that I got last year. I travelled all year with one board, it’s holding up well, and that’s what I want.” - Billy Parker
BILLY The 2016 Billy is the product of hard work, dedication, drive, and skill. It is the collaboration between the pro kiteboarder, Billy Parker, and AXIS Kiteboarding’s master shaper, Adrian Roper. The Billy has been in the works for several years and is specifically designed for hitting features, such as kickers and rails, as well as taking extremely high impact landings. For this reason we recommend only using Boots with this board. The construction features dual inserts for custom boot placement, P-Tex grindable base like a snowboard making for steezy slides and easy repairs, not forgetting our strong and reliable Paulownia wood core. The Billy is built tough! Being designed by the two of our highest level individuals, the only thing left to build is a rocket. Their collaboration of expertise shines through when you experience the ride and performance of this board, Sunday Bob and the cruisers may not notice a thing, but for the dedicated wake-style kite low park frother, The Billy will be your ticket to stomp. SIZES
INCLUDED
139 X 42
18mm Fins
Billy Parker
Yaron Moura
Rich Stenning
SURF
This year we launch an entirely new family of surfboards, the result of years of collaboration between AXIS’s shaper Adrian Roper and a key group of team riders. For a lot of folks, the best thing to take out surfing with your kite is a surfboard, but don’t expect a regular surfboard to last too long when subjected to the punishment of a solid kitesurfing session. Determined to build a board with the feel of a performance shortboard but the durability to withstand the added forces of kiting, we turned to cutting edge materials, and through a thorough prototype development process tuned a series of shapes to bring you the AXIS Kapua.Thanks to a relatively new fibre called Innegra, and a hand made construction similar to the best custom surfboards, we have been able to greatly increase the strength and impact resistance of the boards, without compromising the weight and flex. For the powered wave riders, who might like to mix it up with some big air and generally treat their ‘stick’ mean, we built the AXIS Rakau. Our wooden weapon. It shares the same carefully tuned shapes as the Kapua but is built in a rugged oak veneer construction, and is reinforced in all the right places to take on all the fury you and the ocean can throw at it. All this surfing made us hungry, so we also brought along a potato, the Riwai. A modern hybrid surfboard shape, it’s just the ticket for maximum fun in less than ideal surf, making the best of a bad situation. And of course we’ve got the New Wave, a favourite of innovative kitesurfers all over, with a fresh look and some refinements to what is already a classic recipe. Ultimately, we want you out there having fun with mother nature. We designed this range of shred sticks so that there is an AXIS surfboard for you, however you ride.
Olly Brunton
KAPUA cloud
Born from the desire for a feather weight surfboard that can stand up to the punishment of kiting. In an industry first we built this board using a high performance polypropylene fibre called Innegra which has outstanding impact and compressive strength properties. This results in a surfboard that is strong but light, so light that we named it ‘Kapua’, a Maori word meaning cloud. Each board is hand laminated with pigmented epoxy resin, so no two boards will ever look exactly the same. The Kapua also features a carbon fibre patch to further reduce compression under your front foot, which we’ve covered with a trippy white pattern to stop the black carbon melting your wax on a sunny day. Our global surf team have been testing, tuning, breaking and refining this family of shapes until we can’t think of anything left to improve. Wax it up or fit our optional front deck grip. Whatever floats your boat. Each board comes fitted with an AXIS tail pad and a set of Futures fins. If strapless kite surfing is your thing, we designed the AXIS Kapua range to be the best thing you can put between your feet and the water. SIZES
INCLUDED
6’0” x 18½” x 2¼” 25.3 ltrs Thruster 5’11” x 19¼” x 23/8” 28.1 ltrs Quad 5’9” x 18½” x 21/8” 23.6 ltrs Quad 5’7” x 18¼” x 21/8” 22.6 ltrs Quad 5’4” x 17½” x 2” 19.7 ltrs Quad
AXIS Futures Fins
Tamatoa Gillot
Susi Giannios
RAKAU wood, weapon
Surfers have been calling their boards a ‘stick’ for ever, and long before then the Maori people had their own word for a stick, Rakau. It also meant ‘weapon’. In 2016 we introduce this wooden weapon, the AXIS Rakau. Designed for powered strapped kitesurfing, this versatile collection of boards will take whatever you can throw at them. The EPS core has a 6mm Paulownia stringer, PVC reinforced deck, and tough oak veneer with 6 Oz. glass on top and 4 Oz glass below. The 6’0” is a dedicated thruster for the big stuff, but the smaller shapes have 5 PVC reinforced futures fin boxes, and can be ridden Thruster or Quad. Versatility. The boards come fitted with an EVA deck grip and a leash plug. Sharing the same finely tuned family of shapes as the Kapua, the Rakau is the board to grab if you want to ride powered up, bust some big air, drop into the gaping maws of the ocean itself, or just enjoy the security of knowing your feet are happily strapped to your ‘stick’. Rakau, it’s wood, it’s good.
SIZES
INCLUDED
6’0” x 18½” x 2¼” 25.3 ltrs 5’11” x 19¼” x 23/8” 28.1 ltrs 5’9” x 18½” x 21/8” 23.6 ltrs 5’7” x 18¼” x 21/8” 22.6 ltrs 5’4” x 17½” x 2” 19.7 ltrs
AXIS Surf Straps Set of Futures Fins
Michael Gebhart
RIWAI potato
The Riwai is our specialist shape for anyone who does not live at the sideshore/ crosshore turquoise firing surfbreak where you can see your kite through the clear lip while being barreled in the lovely tropical waters of never never land. That’s right, picture yourself making the most of small mushy onshore waves, surfing a lake, throwing down strapless airs, or racing sections for a bit of sideways slide hacks on small onshore mush! Built in the same tough oak construction as our Rakau collection, this little potato will stand up to the punishment of modern kitesurfing. The Riwai is suited for smaller waves up head height with good speed, loose turns, and is a great shape for throwing around on the wave or in the air.
SIZES
INCLUDED
5’4” x 19” x 23/8” 26.1ltrs
AXIS Surf Straps Futures fins set of 5
NEW WAVE The 2016 AXIS New Wave is a very unique kite-surfboard and is one of our most popular boards to so many different groups of riders. The New Wave offers amazing versatility, being used as a twin fin, a skimboard with no fins, fully finned in the waves, as a flat water board, a light wind board, for learners, for pros, with straps, strapless, or flat water freestyle. This is a board worthy of the creative rider who shreds outside the square. The New Wave is based on a paulownia wood and PVC core, and is glassed with a unique infusion lamination process. Our designer Adrian Roper recessed the deck of the New Wave to give a more direct feeling underfoot. The surface of the board is all EVA, giving great foothold, an improved feel for the board, and cushioned landings. The New Wave is very strong and flexible thus providing a super comfortable ride. This board is equally suited to riding small waves or freestyle with uniquely raised rails for aerial grabs and flat water trickery. Our global team mostly uses the AXIS New Wave strapless but the board comes with AXIS adjustable surf straps until you find your feet. SIZES
INCLUDED
5’8” x 19” Thruster 5’4” x 18” Quad
AXIS Futures Fins
“New Wave inspires confidence in big blown out surf, best landing gear for aerials, unmatchable durability...it’s the foundation of my board quiver!” - Rich Stenning
TWIN WAVE The AXIS Twinwave is a unique twintip that has been designed specifically for the waves. The concept is not a new one, actually a kickback to the roots of Twintips. That’s right Axis is OG and know that there are those of you who want waves on a twintip. The V Spine bottom profile and the tucked rail allow this board to glide effortlessly from edge to edge. The Twinwave is a directional twintip, with the tucked edges tapering into a harder edge at the tail. There are also multiple fin placements to accentuate the directional aspect of the board, or simply ride as a standard twintip. The Twinwave is dedicated to the waves but also excels in the chop, not quite ready for a directional kite surfboard? Here is the perfect transition from a twintip into the progressive and dynamic world of kitesurfing. Cowabunga!!
SIZES
INCLUDED
148 x 43
Traction + 50mm Fins, 70mm fins, 80mm fin.
FOIL Haydn Fischer
Kite foiling has to be the most exciting area of development in the sport in recent years. From humble and experimental beginnings a highly competitive race scene has emerged and foils can now be seen on kite beaches all over the world. The fastest thing on the water, riding a foil is being the pilot of a wing flying underwater, while your board flies through the air. Glide effortlessly through rough seas, point higher upwind than any other board, the benefits are amazing. AXIS have been making custom foil boards for years, but this year we introduce two production race oriented boards, two hybrid foil/surfboards and will soon unveil our very own foil. Flying both underwater and above, we introduce our 2016 foil collection, the AXIS Maroro, the Maori name for ‘flying fish’. The requirements of a race foil board are unusual, borrowing as much from the design of a sea plane’s floats as from a kite or sail board. The board needs to provide a solid connection to the mast of the foil, and when riding it spends most of its time hovering above the water, occasionally connecting with some chop or a wave. We offer both Tuttle and 90mm Plate connections for compatability with most makes of foil. It’s not all about going fast though, foiling is also a great way to cruise. Because they are so efficient foils open up amazing light wind possibilities. Don’t wait for white caps, go foiling! Cruising, travel and versatility are the motivation behind our pair of Maroro hybrid surf/foil boards. Based on the durable oak construction of our Rakau surfboard range, they are designed to take a beating. You can ride them with a foil in the morning, then when the wind or waves pick up swap the foil for fins and go surfing. Perfect for travelling light. So whether you’re trying to hang a medal around your neck in the Kite Foil racing scene, heading off to a tropical atoll to cruise around and maybe hit a few waves or just want to get out there and give foiling a go, there is an AXIS Maroro for you.
Michael Gebhart
MARORO flying fish
They carve in the waves and soar through the air, the new AXIS Maroro convertible foil surfboards are all about versatility. Based on the same rugged oak construction as our Rakau surfboard collection, the Maroro 5’9” and 5’1” are built tough to stand up to those foiling wipe outs and the rigours of travelling. perfect to learn to foil on, heavier than our carbon race boards, Dual 6mm Paulownia stringers frame a pair of fin boxes for a solid foil connection that allows fore/aft adjustment for optimum foil positioning. It also includes 4 Futures fin boxes so it can be used as a surf board when the swell starts firing. Compatible with any foil that uses a 90mm plate mount such as Magma Hydrofoils, Taaroa Sword 1, Levitaz Hydrofoils, Liquid Force, MHL / Lift, Slingshot.
SIZES
INCLUDED
5’9” x 19½” x 2¼” 27.9 ltrs 5’1” x 20” x 2¼” 25.9 ltrs
Futures compatible fins
Maroro free race, carbon, variety of box options, easier than Pro Race, etc.
MARORO FreeRace flying fish
The AXIS Maroro FreeRace is designed to be a competitive race board, but is also a great all rounder. In fact the FreeRace is the easiest foil board to ride in our range. Built with the same light weight and durable carbon construction as our race proven ProRace but with a rounder outline for a more forgiving ride. A bit like the floats of a seaplane, the double concave nose is designed to bounce off the water, while the chamfered edges deflect chop. The Maroro FreeRace features carbon and 4 oz glass over an EPS core, with a carbon reinforced deck and dual 6mm Paulownia stringers framing the foil mounting boxes. All finished in a spectacular ‘go fast red’ hand rubbed paint finish. The FreeRace can be ordered with either a Tuttle or 90mm Plate foil connection to fit most makes of foil.
SIZES 152 x 50 cm 32ltrs
MARORO ProRace flying fish
The AXIS Maroro ProRace is our ultimate speed machine. The result of several generations of race board prototypes, we now offer a finely tuned production race board to take your foiling to the next level. Foil board design poses unusual challenges, the boards hurtle through the air at amazing speed, so aerodynamics becomes more important than the boards behaviour in water. The ProRace has a very straight outline to cleanly cut through both air and water. The double concave nose is designed to bounce off the water, while the chamfered edges deflect chop and waves when edging. The Maroro ProRace features carbon and 4 oz glass over an EPS core, with a carbon reinforced deck and dual 6mm Paulownia stringers framing the foil mounting boxes. All finished in a spectacular ‘go fast red’ hand rubbed paint finish. The ProRace can be ordered with either a Tuttle or 90mm Plate foil connection to fit most makes of foil.
SIZES 154 x 53cm 41 litres
MARORO Foil flying fish
Coming soon!
GEAR
TRACTION SYSTEM We worked hard to design a pad/strap system that gives you an amazing board feel, but is also very easy to set up and go. The result was the AXIS Traction system. This year we introduce the Traction Small. A pad/strap system designed for small feet. The Traction pad/strap system is light weight, comfortable, and high performing at the same time. Variable density EVA make the pad comfortable and responsive, while the Poron XRD material absorbs every vibration and impact from your jumps, and chop. Here at AXIS we have invested a lot of our time in impact technology and feel that Poron XRD is the absolutely best material for kiteboarding pads. Try out or pads/straps and you will immediately feel the difference. Compatible with almost every kiteboard on the market. – Lightweight sturdy construction – Wider strap system for ultimate lock and support. – 4 different strap adjustments for maximum configuration for any style of riding and foot size. – Dual PE Layers inside the straps, with 100% foam rebound. Incredibly lightweight and supportive. – Dual Layer extra soft neoprene with no wrinkles when arched. Very stable and comfortable. – Velcro straps are hidden under protective flap, good place to stash a spare hardware bolt should you ever need one.
SIZES
INCLUDED
TRACTION + SMALL TRACTION +
19mm Fins